Mayoral academies seek expansion

PROVIDENCE, RI – Supporters of a kind of charter school known as mayoral academies called on Governor Lincoln Chafee to support their expansion. The state Board of Regents is expected to vote on such a proposal September first.

Charter school supporters point to disparities in academic performance between rich and poor students to underscore the need for change.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung says mayoral academies have a record of raising students' performance while offering an option to frustrated parents.

"I wanted to make sure and be involved in hosting a mayoral academy for Providence and Cranston to have those similar great results and choices, for our parents and students, and they deserve no less," he says.

Governor Chafee has showed lukewarm support for charter schools, calling himself a strong advocate for public education but seeing charter schools as just one part of improving public education in Rhode Island.

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